Always on the hunt for a good deal I couldn't resist when I came across this Whirley Popper for $2.99 at one of my favorite thrift stores. It makes absolutely delicously perfect popcorn. Yummo! Plus the kids had loads of fun turning the wooden handle. It even pops up almost as fast microwave popcorn to boot. I highly recommend it as a fab find!
So, I've been on this major spray painting kick. Wondering about all the things I could tackle with my trusty can of spray paint. Just yesterday I was dropping off a donation at the local thrift store and I wandered in to check out the offerings. I hit pay dirt. Coming out with 5 sweet little bird figurines that I promptly painted white. Five tropical colored fish plaques that will get hung in my newly painted powder room. A Longabergerish basket to corral the many shoes we own and best of all a nice solid wood collapsible craft table. The top is not in the best condition, but since I plan to place a cutting mat on it. I won't bother trying to paint or refinish it. I scored all this along with a huge zippered canvas tote bag for under $30.
Check out some of my loot below.
Here are the birds prepaint redux. I have to note that O. was disappointed in the monochromatic scheme of my make over, but M. declared that they looked great! 
Fabulous craft table. It's got wheels and it folds out to 48" of work surface. Score! Like I said there's some water damage or some such to the top, but who cares? Not me.
Talk about the perfect accessory. After we finished repainting the bathroom M. observed that it was just like being underwater and that we needed some fish on the wall. When I saw these little plaques I knew it was meant to be and M. was thrilled as punch.
Our old shoe collector lasted about 10 years. So finding this Longaberger knockoff for $3 was enough to have me singing a happy tune. Especially after seeing just how hefty the price tag is for a basket of this size.
There's just a few days before my younger children head back to school. I have lots to do to get ready so that is what I'm working on. Making a last pass through the closets and dressers to see what needs to be purchased. Reviewing the school supply list and shopping for what's needed. Cutting hair and otherwise getting them spiffed up. I also want to update my home management binder and the file box I use to keep kids stuff (you know all those forms and papers that have to go back) organized. So, I'd say that should keep me busy enough for the next day or two.
Recently I have stumbled across an insane amount of craft/diy/home decor blogs. It's like it's the new "black" or something. Everyone is doing it. You're not cool unless your crafty. It's actually find it really validating. You see, I was crafty years before it was "the thing". If I have to be honest I was crafty when it was kind of geeky and weird...now suddenly I'm hip and cool without having to change a thing about myself. I'm slightly amused. I sort of think with the economy people are thinking more about how they can feather their nest or create things that are personal without going into debt. You now have sites like Etsy that give home artisans a venue to sell their wares. As a society we are thinking more about how to keep what we have or make a little coinage doing something that we love. I think it's a throw back to the concept of local artisans hawking their wares in a central market place. I've observed that there are a great deal of sahm's who have jumped on this bandwagon too. I think it's empowering in a way that is separate from being a mom and I so get that. Plus it really gets the creative juices flowing. I've even observed it in my "real" life. Several enterprising women that I know have jumped on the bandwagon and are offering their wares and talents to the public. You go ladies!
I think about my own craft/diy journey. I've been sewing off and on since I was in junior high school. I've always dabbled in some type of creative pursuit; knitting, cross stitching, jewelery making, ceramics, you name it and I've probably tried it. I love creating stuff. In terms of my home and diying it I think it's simply my nature. I'm pretty frugal and I love to thrift shop. Sometime I've joked with my friends and family that I'm the idiot savant of thrift. I can generally see the potential in something that someone has cast aside. I get a visual in my mind of how it would look painted or tweaked...in a new color, with new fabric or hardware. That's a gift I tell you, lol. It's fun and rewarding to see the diamond emerge from that lump of coal I brought home. Plus I get to try out new skills. I can teach myself to paint furniture, use power tools, rewire lamps and other machinery. I get the satisfaction of knowing I did it myself and while it might not be perfect...it's really perfectly fine in my eyes. I've also come to think of it as an educational pursuit. I left academia long ago, probably to never return. But, I still want to learn new things. Crafting/Diying provides me with ample opportunities with my home as my laboratory. My latest interest is my yard and gardening. I know nothing, but with the Internet and all the talented folks online I feel like I've just signed up for a master course. Wish me luck. Hopefully you'll be seeing a beautiful yard and garden emerge over the next year or so.
One of my most vivid memories of growing up was making homemade ice cream with my sister. We'd all sit around the dining table sharing laughs and the goodness of that favorite summer treat. The recipes we always used were simple and no cook. We'd add in various seasonal fruit for a change of pace, but what I remember most was the delicious taste of simple homemade vanilla ice cream. Vanilla is still my favorite. I realize it's an indulgence to have an ice cream maker, but there really isn't anything better than homemade ice cream. I'll give you a hint, if you check those thrift stores, you are bound to find one on the cheap. So go out and grab one and have a bowl of homemade ice cream and remember me.
Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream
2 quarts half-and-half cream
1/2 pint heavy cream
1 1/2 cups white sugar
4 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 pinch salt
Combine all the ingredients in freezer container of ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer's instructions.
Well, I played hookie and went to see "Harry Potter and the half-blood prince". Very good! A bit different than the book, but in essence they tried to stay true to JKR.
Now, I'm home and going to start on the touch up painting I want to do. Yesterday I finished the powder room and it came out stupendous. I really like the color (I'll have to get a picture soon), it's called "Bottle Blue" and it's just lovely. I got it at Walmart and the paint was by Kilz. I have to say a word about the Kilz brand paint. I was actually super surprised at how great it was to work with. Really nice and thick with full coverage. I'll be the first to admit I'm not a fantastic painter, but having a nice quality product (at a great price to boot) helps a lot.
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